Chapter 16

Up to Chapter 16? (3)

"Hey, good job."

As is typical with academic conferences,

there was a dinner party after the Taehwa Internal Medicine Case Presentation.

It wasn't just a small gathering; all the professors, residents, and fellows who attended the presentation were present at this grand dinner.

Therefore, the venue was not a fancy restaurant but a spacious pub in the back alley of the hospital.

"Thank you, Professor. Thanks to you, I could do it without trembling."

Seohyuk was at a table located in the center of the large dinner venue.

While it wasn't exactly in the dead center,

the people sitting at that table were such that no one would dare to argue with the term "central."

[Taehwa Medical Center's Professor Shin Hyuntae, Professor Lee Hyunjong. Chilseong Hospital's Professor Park Gukjin, Asan Hospital's Professor Woo Changyun. All department heads.]

They were also the top three professors from major hospitals in South Korea.

Moreover, they were the presidents of various medical societies.

Although Professor Lee Hyunjong was so senior that he was beyond the level of being a society president.

In any case, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that these four professors were leading the field of internal medicine in South Korea.

'I know, I'm not trembling, right?'

[So far, that's true, but if alcohol consumption continues, it's hard to guarantee. Current blood alcohol level is 0.08%. I advise against further consumption.]

As Baruda said, if he stopped now, he could feel good and go back to the hospital.

But things don't always go as planned.

'I need to drink now.'

There's a saying that if you stay alert, you can survive even if you're caught in a tiger's den.

Seohyuk recalled this somewhat inappropriate proverb and composed himself.

"How about it? Our first-year resident."

In the meantime, Director Lee Hyunjong, with a slightly flushed face, pointed at Seohyuk.

Then Professor Park Gukjin of Chilseong Hospital chuckled and said,

"Did you see how Professor An got a good scolding? He was impressive, wasn't he?"

An Guktae wasn't just disliked by other hospitals, so Professor Park was just enjoying the spectacle.

Moreover, he showed a great interest in Seohyuk, the first-year resident.

"Really... You're not just saying that, are you?"

Even when he thought about it himself, it seemed like a cold joke that he should be beaten up.

"Does that make sense? What do you think of our Taehwa Internal Medicine Case Presentation?"

Naturally, Director Lee Hyunjong was indignant.

Thanks to this, Professor Park Gukjin could naturally continue the conversation.

"Because you did so well... That's why. If I had a student like you, I'd be content."

"Hey, look at this guy. You're trying to poach him because he's good, right?"

"What? No... I'm not trying to poach him. I'm just envious. I think he'd do well if he came here. That's all I'm saying."

While saying this, Professor Park kept making eye contact with Seohyuk.

[Is this seduction?]

Baruda, who was recently enjoying data collection through the five senses, analyzed Professor Park's expression and gave an answer.

The interesting thing was that it seemed to be roughly accurate.

'Is it roughly accurate?'

[It's peculiar.]

'What's peculiar?'

[To think that renowned professors are competing over a mere Seohyuk.]

'A mere? Did you just say "a mere" now?'

[Without me, could you have given the presentation today? Without me, you would have been torn apart by Professor An Guktae and would be in a mess right now.]

Baruda shot a sharp remark at the angry Seohyuk.

Although he desperately wanted to retort, Seohyuk failed to find the right words and closed his mouth.

In fact, just following the conversation at the table was keeping him busy.

It was a conversation among high-ranking figures, and the topic was none other than Seohyuk himself.

"Hey, Hyuntae. Be careful. The guys from Chilseong Hospital have black hearts."

"What are you talking about, senior?"

"Don't you remember? I put a lot of effort into... Oh, Im Jinhyuk. They poached him, didn't they?"

"Oh, that...?"

"Oh, that? Now, let me ask you. How much did they pay to poach him? He left a week after promising to be loyal to Taehwa Medical Center."

"Um..."

"Ten billion? Damn bastards."

"Hey, don't make such a big fuss."

Meanwhile, the bickering between Director Lee Hyunjong and Professor Park Gukjin continued.

Professors Shin Hyuntae and Woo Changyun just watched them, not trying to intervene.

They were people who expressed their fondness for each other in this way.

On the other hand, Seohyuk was still trying to process the shocking amount he had just heard.

'There really are such cases...'

[What kind of cases are you talking about?]

'They say that good professors are offered separate salaries or signing bonuses by hospitals. But ten billion...?'

Ten billion.

To Seohyuk, who had lived as an orphan, it was an amount so large that it felt completely foreign.

With that money, he could have anything he wanted, like a car or clothes.

[You're consistently worldly, Seohyuk.]

'What's wrong with that?'

[Nothing, I support you. If you become the world's best internal medicine doctor, you can earn even more.]

'That's true...'

Fortunately, he had just successfully taken the first step toward that goal today.

Thanks to this, a smile never left Seohyuk's face.

Professor Woo Changyun, who had been watching his face all along, thought Seohyuk's smile was very charming.

'Smart... Simple... Hmm.'

Of course, it might be too much to make a fuss over just one presentation.

But was it really a coincidence that he gave this presentation?

While Shin Hyuntae might have chosen him, Director Lee Hyunjong was a different person.

He was the first Korean doctor to come close to winning the Nobel Prize.

'He didn't choose me randomly. He really wanted to show off this guy.'

And that intention was completely understood.

Even Professor Park Gukjin, who was quite proud, was already talking about a fellowship that was three years away.

Moreover, Professor Woo Changyun, who was now intensely thinking, was considering how to poach Seohyuk.

"Ah, but Mr. Seohyuk. Can I speak freely? It's a private setting, so it should be fine."

Professor Woo Changyun spoke up after Director Lee Hyunjong and Professor Park Gukjin, exhausted from their bickering, went out to smoke.

'Ah, this person is here, too.'

Especially since he spoke up when they were alone.

Professor Shin Hyuntae, who was left behind, looked at Professor Woo Changyun and Seohyuk with a tense expression.

"Of course, Professor."

Although he had already had quite a bit to drink, Seohyuk's pronunciation was clear.

Seeing this, Professor Woo's smile deepened, thinking it was a sign of mental strength.

"Good. By any chance, are you... seeing anyone these days?"

"Me?"

"Do you have a girlfriend?"

"Oh, no. I don't."

At the mention of a girlfriend, Professor Shin Hyuntae's eyes narrowed.

'Is this guy crazy?'

As far as he knew, Professor Woo Changyun had a daughter.

She was a fourth-year student at Taehwa University Medical School.

Originally, this would have been a topic of teasing, proving that Taehwa University was better than Asan University.

But now, it felt like a huge threat.

"Is that so? That's what you're saying."

"Wait a minute. Professor Woo, are you trying to introduce someone to me?"

"What? No, I know first-year residents are busy. I don't want to get scolded for introducing someone."

"Then... why are you asking?"

"Why are you so defensive? Are you Mr. Seohyuk's father?"

"Well... I'm not, but..."

"Then it's none of your business. Anyway, Mr. Seohyuk."

Professor Woo Changyun, seemingly pleased with Professor Shin Hyuntae's reaction, chuckled and looked at Seohyuk again.

'He looks a bit disabled...'

But it might be a good thing.

He would be exempt from military service.

As a university hospital doctor, he could have a smooth path ahead.

"Yes, Professor."

"Don't be too nervous. Listen."

"Yes."

"There's a fourth-year student at Taehwa University Medical School named Woo Hayun. Do you know her?"

"Oh..."

He had heard of her.

She was a royal and beautiful, and also a top student.

"She's my daughter."

"Oh, really? I didn't know."

Actually, he knew.

Woo Hayun was well-known, and so was Professor Woo Changyun.

One of his close friends ran a groundbreaking medical YouTube channel called "Doctor Friends," and thanks to this, Woo Hayun had appeared a few times.

"It's not a blind date... She wants to do internal medicine, but she refuses to come to Asan Hospital. She says it's because of her father."

"Yes."

"How about meeting her on the weekend? As a senior, you can talk to her about internal medicine. You can also watch a movie or something."

"Oh..."

Seohyuk hesitated to answer immediately and looked at Professor Shin Hyuntae.

He wondered if it was appropriate to go out, even though he was only a first-year resident.

"Professor Shin. What do you think? A first-year resident who works well and is smart should also know how to socialize."

But Professor Woo Changyun, who was quick to notice, interjected, leaving Professor Shin no chance to object.

"Well, that's true, but..."

"It's not a blind date. Come on, I'm scared of my daughter. How can I introduce a first-year resident to her?"

Professor Shin Hyuntae wanted to punch Professor Woo Changyun's nose but didn't show it.

"Ah, but. What's Seohyuk's schedule for next month?"

Instead, he decided to pass the ball to another professor.

'Wasn't it hematology-oncology?'

It was one of the toughest departments in internal medicine.

It was already frustrating that a first-year resident would be a primary physician in such a department in April, and now he was making weekend plans?

A hematology-oncology professor would never accept it.

"Hematology-oncology."

"Oh, under Professor Jo Taejin?"

But there was one thing Professor Shin Hyuntae hadn't considered.

Professor Jo Taejin was a junior of Professor Woo Changyun.

Not just a junior from Asan University, but also from Mokpo High School.

"Hey, Taejin!"

"Yes, sir. What is it?"

Professor Jo Taejin rushed to Professor Woo.

"This guy is supposed to be under you next month, right?"

"Yes, that's what I was told."

"Right. Give him one day off on the weekend. You know, Hayun. She wants to do internal medicine, and it would be good for a first-year resident to hear about Taehwa Medical Center's internal medicine department."

"Of course. I'll give him the day off. But..."

"But?"

Professor Jo Taejin was now looking at Seohyuk instead of Professor Woo Changyun.

"If he performs as well as he did in infectious diseases, it would be legendary. But if he messes up here, I'll be disappointed, won't I?"

Seohyuk nodded confidently.

"I'll do my best, Professor."

It was a confident response.

No, if he did better than in infectious diseases, he would do better, and he had no intention of doing worse.